Healthy Recipes Low-Calorie Recipes 20 Low-Calorie, High-Protein Dinners Ready in 20 Minutes or Less By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 11, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Do you want to spend only 20 minutes in the kitchen before enjoying a delicious and nutrient-rich dinner? These dinner recipes—like Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa, and Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata—will make that a reality! Each dish is low in calories and has at least 15 grams of protein per serving to help you feel full and satisfied. And since they boast such quick cook times, you’ll have plenty of time to spare enjoying a relaxing evening. 01 of 20 Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa An easy-to-make slaw served on the side of these salmon tacos makes for a filling and fast weeknight dinner. If you prefer more heat in these fish tacos, simply add a pinch or two of chipotle chile powder or cayenne with the chili powder. View Recipe 02 of 20 Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings! View Recipe 03 of 20 Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette. View Recipe 04 of 20 One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish pasta recipe. The pasta is cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge to use for meals all week, but any leftover cooked pasta you have on hand will do. Chicken sausage with feta is especially good in this recipe. View Recipe 05 of 20 BBQ Shrimp with Garlicky Kale & Parmesan-Herb Couscous In the U.S., dry whole-wheat couscous has been partially cooked, making it a quick-cooking (5 minutes!) whole-grain weeknight dinner champ. And when you buy peeled shrimp, plus a bag of pre-chopped kale and bottled barbecue sauce, the savings in prep time helps to get this healthy dinner done in a jiff. View Recipe 06 of 20 Old Bay Salmon with Lemony Mashed Peas Cooking butter until it browns adds a toasty, nutty flavor to this easy skillet salmon recipe. Here it gives Old Bay-rubbed salmon a chef-worthy finish—not bad for 20 minutes! View Recipe 07 of 20 Walnut-Rosemary Crusted Salmon Photography: Carson Downing, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabe Greco Salmon and walnuts are both great sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Pair this easy baked salmon with a simple salad and a side of roasted potatoes for dinner winner. View Recipe 08 of 20 Sweet & Sour Chicken with Broccoli In less time than it takes to order takeout, you can have this saucy dish on the table. Toasted ramen noodles make for a tasty, crunchy topping. View Recipe 09 of 20 Green Salad with Edamame & Beets Katie Webster This big salad is a feast for the eyes and an everyday way to incorporate nutrient-rich beets and plant-based protein from edamame (green soybeans). If you're not a fan of cilantro, mix in freshly chopped basil or dill instead. View Recipe 10 of 20 Veggie Wrap with Cilantro Hummus These healthy multigrain wraps are filled with mixed greens, chopped cucumber, tomato and red onion, as well as feta cheese and a homemade cilantro hummus. View Recipe 11 of 20 Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole This restaurant-worthy steak dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too. View Recipe 12 of 20 Penne with Tuna & Sun-Dried Tomatoes Need a quick pasta dish that's flavorful and colorful? This penne pasta dinner-for-two combines leeks, baby spinach, tuna and sun-dried tomatoes—and it's ready in just 20 minutes! View Recipe 13 of 20 Greens Salad with Baked Tofu & Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette This plant-based main-dish salad packs a powerful punch of greens, nutrients and flavor. Add plant-based protein with baked tofu, which has a firm texture that is well suited to salads and sandwiches. The vinaigrette rounds out the dish with a tangy-sweet kick. View Recipe 14 of 20 Mushroom Ravioli & Chicken Piccata Here we combine mushrooms, ravioli and chicken with a lemon-caper sauce for an easy dinner that will remind you of chicken piccata. View Recipe 15 of 20 Quick Shrimp Puttanesca Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian-inspired pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets shrimp here for extra protein, and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). View Recipe 16 of 20 Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice This recipe comes together fast with just three ingredients you can always have on hand in your freezer and fridge. Store-bought teriyaki glaze makes a great marinade for cod that doubles as a sauce for the cauliflower rice. View Recipe 17 of 20 Sesame-Ginger Chicken Salad Keeping cooked chicken and prepared sesame-ginger dressing on hand means this healthy main-dish salad comes together in a snap. View Recipe 18 of 20 Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Summer Vegetables This creamy and delicious summery twist on fettuccine Alfredo, packed with green beans and summer squash, is sure to become your new favorite pasta meal. View Recipe 19 of 20 Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Sauce This vibrant grain bowl is packed with nutrients to keep you full for hours. Look for precooked lentils in the refrigerated section of the produce department or pick up a can near other canned beans. View Recipe 20 of 20 BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw This zippy, creamy slaw is so good you might find yourself making it for other sandwiches. Still, it pairs beautifully with the tangy pulled chicken for an incredibly quick dinner you can make even on your busiest nights. To save even more time, use a preshredded coleslaw blend. View Recipe Medically reviewed by Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit